Author Archives: The Voice

The Liberal Democrats’ Shadow Foreign Secretary, Edward Davey, has been thrown out of the House of Commons by Deputy Speaker Michael Lord. The rest of the Parliamentary Party have walked out in protest during the debate on the Lisbon Treaty.

The party’s amendment calling for a in/out referendum was blocked by the parliamentary authorities. Ed Davey had angrily protested, describing the decision as “an outrage”.

Updates: BBC News – Sky News – Lynne Featherstone MP – Nick Clegg and Ed Davey

Nick Clegg has a piece in today’s Guardian explaining his view on Europe:

The debate about Europe has been a thorn in the side of British politics for decades. Now the wound has become infected. Europhile and Eurosceptic trading blows about the Lisbon treaty in grand rhetoric that obscures the facts. If you’re pro-European, as I am, you’re accused of being a sellout. If you’re anti-European, like most Conservatives, you’re accused of being a headbanger. It isn’t new, but it isn’t edifying either.

It’s time we pulled out the thorn and healed the wound, time for a debate politicians have been

…

The Lancashire Telegraph tells us more:

Stephanie Booth, who is married to Cherie’s father, actor Tony Booth, was confirmed at the weekend and will contest the seat which has become vacant because sitting Liberal Democrat councillor Claire Townley has decided not to seek re-election. She faces an election on May 1 with Hilary Myers being chosen as the Liberal Democrat candidate.

Sad news via a London Region email:

Last week we received the enormously sad news that Belinda Eyre-Brook had lost her long battle with cancer. Belinda has put enormous energy into her campaign work in Kingston, rewarded initially with Ed Davey’s win in 1997 by just 56 votes but then turned into a majority of over 15,000. What remarkable skill, persistence and dedication. Not only in her own area but wherever she worked Belinda had an enormously infectious enthusiasm that we will miss greatly.

Our sympathies are with her family and friends.

Hampshire News brings us the glad tidings:

The Conservatives lost overall control of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council last night after the Liberal Democrats won the Baughurst by-election.

Liberal Democrat Michael Bound secured 428 votes to beat Tory Zoe Wheddon, who polled 368 votes. The turnout was 41 per cent.

The by-election was called after the death of sitting Conservative councillor Sheila Allen, in September.

The result wiped out the Conservatives’ majority, leaving them with half the 60 council seats. The Liberal Democrats now have 16 councillors, while the Labour group retains 11 and the independents three.

This is the latest good result for …

Press release from the party: 

GOVERNMENT HAS NATIONALISED NORTHERN ROCK BUT PRIVATISED THE PROFITS – CABLE

Commenting on Alistair Darling’s statement to Parliament today on the Northern Rock crisis, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable said:

“It is particularly ironic that the Prime Minister felt the need to fly to a communist country to come up with a supposedly private sector solution for Northern Rock.

“The reality is the Government has ingeniously come up with a private sector sale that doesn’t involve any private sector money.

“In order to save face Brown has decided that losses of Northern Rock should be nationalised, but that profits …

Nick Clegg gave an interview to The Herald on his visit to Scotland during the week. You can watch it here (note: it may start automatically on your computer):